Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-12-08
CHAPTER XII
Nor A TRACE. MY LADY;


Lady Lydia was woman thoroughly dis
gusted with so-called society men, the ma
jority of whom she considered either insipid,
or heartlesS; while she looked upon all as
more or less selfish. "a. e
Being girl of quick perceptions, she gem
orally mana ged to form tolerably correct
opinion of q mans character during the first
few interviews with hum. fks
She was woman of strong physique,
strong will and strong intellect. An only
child and the owner of enormous property,
she was the target for the f1attery and sell
fishaims of an hundred designing advent
urers. Many of her admirers were sincere
In their devotion, however, for her dispo-
sition and mental endowments were not one
whit inferior to her physical and pecuniary
attractions. But she never yet had seen
any one who had inspired her with any thing
like deep interest; and she was too sin
cere, and possessed far too much individ-
uality of character, to desire a match for
mere honor or convenience's sake. If she
ever thought of marriage at all-and it was a
subject that rarely troubled her-her future
husband was clearly defined in her magma
ton as a man whom she could love, respect
and, perhaps, fear.
She, too, had been struck with the sad
ness and fine expression of Fairfax's
countenance on that eventful night at the
Warehouses;
When the man was under the influence of
any unusual or thrilling excitement, as he
was DARN g that evening, his entire manner
was strikingly courteous, refined and digni-
fed. He never appeared to better ad-
vantage thanwhen suffering g pain, mental or
physical. & E =
With wonan's eagerness to solve
mystery, she desired to learn his history.
-b,I,4~
mystery connected with it. Why had he
been so disturbed at Natalie's appearance.
Then, again, he had actually all but ''cut''
her-not Intentionally. she supposed; thus
making his action the more annoying, be-
cause of his absent mindedness.
AT any rate. whatever the cause, her
thoughts We're continually reverting to
Fairfax, and she found herself making the
resolve 10 see more of him, and also to
fathom his relations with the Princess.
But fate, in the shape of Fairfax's willy
note, had forbidden her proposed conf
dental little chat with Natalie upon this
eventful afternoon.
aa Only yes terday Lydia had written a
pleasant little note to her tsf1y-away''
friend, Richard, inviting him to dinner the
following evening and begging him to
bring his friend. Mr.. Fairfax. IL he liked:
for whom she also incloSed note.
Cursing lus fate and using some similar
associative expressions with regard to the
headstrong and obstinate Fairfax. whose
mexplca51e conduct was thus Willingly
crsting away so magnificent an opportunity,
Oxford sat down, grinding his teeth and
with tears of anger in his eyes, wrote po-
lite ,replyst to Lydia, regretting that Fairfax
had 1eftfor Havre the evening previous
with the intention of sailing this reyy day
for America''-and that he himself was
obliged Ito depart in few hours for Paris,
whence he would soon leave either Tor En-
gland or for Switzerland
This turn of affairs, while it annoyed
Lydia, only served to make her more deter
mined, and, during her ride to Dol, she
came to the conclusion that, if she would
gain any Roadway in learning the history of
this young American, she must make her
gay young countryman the objective point
of her attack.
At DOL of course, she found no Aunt
Blanche, and no explanation of that lady's
non-appearance. Whereupon the energetic
girl set about solving this aear mystery.
Dashing of hasty telegraph message,
she babe her coachmans hand it to the OPP
orator in the depot. That Official. the mo
ment he glanced at Lydia;s signature, gave
the coachman a note that he declared was
intended for his mistress.
Tearing open the letter, Lydia read:
ssThis is simply a r,lse to draw the Lady
Lydia out Of the way. Her friend, the Prin-
cess Natalie, has been abducted. Kindly
make known the news at Chateau Dor,
urging the uselessness of any search for
her. The inclosed note is for Madame x"
To explain the letters having been in his
the operator quietly handed
Lydia a large envelope, bearing the adj
dress: Telegraph Operator, r. r. Station,
Doln On slip of paper inclosed therein
was the following request: